ORT eyes expansion in Moldova

KIEV, Ukraine (JTA) — The Moldovan government gave its approval to a World ORT plan to invest in vocational training in the country.

ORT leaders presented the initiative to acting Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin on Sept. 8, just days before he resigned. The research and analysis project will be conducted in cooperation with the government.

World ORT Director General Robert Singer, ORT Moldova President Ilan Shor and World ORT representative to the countries of the former Soviet Union David Benish told Voronin that they plan to learn more about the Moldovan economy in order to invest in vocational training in the country, and their intention of providing relevant courses to help people acquire jobs.

Voronin approved ORT Moldova’s plan to set up an “E-bus” program, a mobile computer center that will visit regional centers to provide information and communications technology training that the communities otherwise would have little chance of having. The president asked the ORT delegation to look into training that will help Moldovans provide distance services such as call centers that can bring vital foreign income to one of Europe’s poorest countries.

“I would like to thank ORT for its fruitful work in increasing the standard of living and well-being of Jews and non-Jews in Moldova through its training and education,” Voronin said. “We share a common goal in using the newest technologies to raise the standard of living.

“If this meeting is anything to go by, then ORT’s operations in Moldova will expand significantly in the coming years,” Benish told JTA.

Last week’s meeting was the climax to a four-day tour of select ORT schools and programs in Ukraine and Moldova.